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Leaving Work Early Without Pay

Columnist Sue Shellenbarger answers readers' questions

By

Sue Shellenbarger

Updated April 22, 2009 12:01 a.m. ET

Q: My niece works part-time at a fast-food restaurant. When business is slow, she's sometimes told to leave early before the end of her scheduled shift, without pay for the missed time. Sometimes she's met at the door at the beginning of her shift and told to go home. Also, she sometimes works for five or more hours without being allowed a break. Is this permissible?

—R.S., Carol Stream, Ill.

A: An employer has no legal obligation to pay a worker just because she was scheduled to work....